Ice cream is something everyone loves. When you're looking for things to do in Panama City Beach, whether it’s to celebrate a birthday, have dessert, relieve some stress, or if you’re just trying to cool off, ice cream never lets you down! It comes as soft serve or hard scooped, in a dish or on a cone, dipped with any number of different toppings, or dressed all up as a sundae. Something we all agree on is that when it comes to pleasure ice cream is near the top of the list.

Here in Panama City Beach there are lots of places to enjoy ice cream whether dipped, scooped or swirled from a machine. Following are some of the best places!

You’ve surely heard about people that have gone swimming with dolphins but did you ever think about trying it out for yourself? Have you even been up close and personal with a friendly dolphin? You might be surprised just how personable they are, not to mention such excellent swimmers! We want you to have a fabulous time when you spend your vacation in Florida, so as well as providing you with outstanding yet affordable Panama City Beach vacation rentals, we’ll also tell you about the 4 best places where you can swim with the dolphins right here in Panama City Beach. Make this summer the year your memories are downright priceless!

The whole family will enjoy this unique way to experience Panama City Beach, Florida. Swimming with Dolphins and visiting Shell Island are some of the beaches most popular things to do here. We hit every spot and cover every angle on our Dolphin Tours. Our tours last approx. 2 hours, so you will have plenty of time to enjoy the experience. Come experience a stunning adventure in the Gulf of Mexico you won’t soon forget.

The waters around Panama City Beach are home to one of the highest populations of bottle-nosed dolphins in North America. This, coupled with predominately warm, clear water conditions make the perfect scenario to interact with one of the most friendly and intelligent marine mammals known to man. With Last Local the boat is occupied with only your group and the captain. Our trips start with a minimum of four hours. The odds of dolphin interaction with us are greatly increased. Capt. Vann will see to it that your dolphin encounter is an amazing and unforgettable experience! Not to mention, a more personable one.

We are located at Bay Point Marina, the closest marina to Shell Island and the closest marina to the areas where dolphins are often spotted. This area is famous for having one of the highest and most consistent concentrations of Bottlenose Dolphins. We can virtually guarantee dolphin sightings. Our focus is on personal experience. You are welcome to swim in the areas that dolphins swim, if they want to swim with you they will. We will put together a day that you are sure to never forget. You learn about the intelligence and hear stories about these majestic creatures. You may even get a chance to hear them underwater with our underwater microphone!

Water Planet offers a variety of dolphin swim programs for the whole family including fun and educational swim-with-the-dolphins tours and dolphin therapy programs for children with special needs. All of our dolphin tours combine the natural beauty of a dolphin encounter with education. We are the oldest (since 1994) and most experienced wild dolphin swim facility in Panama City! Our swim with the dolphins tours include an educational briefing, a sightseeing boat ride across the Bay of St. Andrews, the dolphin encounters, the exploration of Shell Island, a marine ecology wet lab (by request), shelling and exploring boat wrecks. Our 1-day Wild Dolphin Swim tour is offered March through October in Panama City Beach FL.

When you’re at the beach and you want to experience
something new and different, try out the various helicopter tours that fly over
and around Panama City Beach FL. If you’ve never been in a helicopter it’s an
experience you won’t soon forget. It’s beyond breathtaking! Following are some
local companies offering an assortment of tours around the coastal area.

Panhandle Helicopter
15726 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32413Reservations: (850) 230-2080
This family owned business offers 5 different types of tours
that vary in time, distance and price. If you have something special in mind
they can accommodate most requests. Helicopter’s are weight based but can
usually hold 3 passengers plus the pilot. Be sure to bring your camera or video
cam. There will be some unbelievable shots you’ll want to capture!

SportationsReservations: 1-800-974-1762
Shell Island Helicopter Tour in Panama City Beach Florida
You’ll fly over 24 miles of the emerald coast
to view St. Andrews State Park, the shipping channel, Grand Lagoon, and the
famous Shell Island. See sunken boats and manmade reefs; home to a variety of
fish species. This extravagant helicopter tour takes you to see the
best of Panama City Beach. Come experience for your self why it’s a crowd
favorite.

Panama City Beach Helicopter Charters
Panama City Beach, FL 32401Reservations: 1-877-996-3454
Offering
a wide range of services, from helicopter tours and rides to carrying
and lifting heavy equipment, aerial photography, and gift certificates that have an expiration
date of two years from date of purchase. Tour
packages of varying lengths are available from Panama City Beach Helicopter
Charters. The amazing sights from above will leave you breathless.

Thrillant Helicopter Tours
Panama City Beach, FL 32401 Reservations: 1-800-913-4627
Come experience the Shark Run Helicopter Tour in Panama City Beach. It’s an adventure
that all thrill seekers and shark enthusiasts alike will want to partake in. You’ll
get close-up views of numerous sharks
swimming in the water. Expect to see hammerheads, bull sharks and more, feeding
in their natural habitat on this 16-mile helicopter tour. If you can stand being up close and
personal with one of the most revered creatures in the sea, then this thrilling
tour is for you.

We know you’ll want to squeeze in as much as you can on your
vacation to Panama City Beach whether you’re here on Spring Break for some time
off or you’re enjoying a family vacation. There are lots of things to do and
local activities taking place this time of the year that you won’t want to
miss!

The Panama City Beach
Plein Air Festival – "Capturing the Moment” -- takes place from 9 a.m. to 4
p.m. from April 11-17 at the Palms Conference Center, 9201 Front Beach Road,
PCB. The oil and acrylic workshop instructor will be Harold Frontz, a
contemporary impressionist painter with an interest in all themes including
landscapes, seascapes, and still life subjects. The watercolor workshop
instructor will be Deblyn Ceeley, a local artist with her National Teaching
Certification that has spent 25 years exploring watercolor through workshops,
training and experience. Register for Harold Frontz’s workshop for 1 day, a few
days or spend the week. Register for Deblyn Ceeley’s workshop for a weekend.
For reservations call 850-541-3867.

Plan on attending the 2nd
Annual 2015 PCB Beer Festival on Saturday, April 18 from 1-4 p.m. Rain or
shine. Fishale Taphouse and Grille are sponsoring this year’s event that
includes over 200 beers from around the world. General admission tickets are
$25 and include commemorative glass, free shuttle service, parking and unlimited
samples of 2 oz. pours of the world’s finest craft beers. VIP admission is $50
and includes access to the VIP tent which will feature rare craft beers, free
hors d’oeuvres, rest rooms and 30 minute early entry to the festival. VIP
guests will also receive a commemorative glass, free shuttle service, parking
and unlimited samples of 2 oz. pours of the world’s finest craft beers. Day of
General Admission Purchase is $35 and can be purchased at the gate on April 18.
Festival location is 7715 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach, FL. Tickets are
available online through xorbia.com. For more information call 850-640-1410.

When you’re visiting Panama City Beach head on down to Front
Beach Road and check out the Panama City Beach piers. Located on the beautiful
Gulf of Mexico the M.B. Miller Pier pier sits 1500 feet out into the
Gulf of Mexico and offers some fabulous fishing as well as stunning
views of sunrises and sunsets.

The two most prominent fishing piers in Panama
City Beach are the identical Russell-Fields Pier (16101 Front Beach Rd.,
Panama City Beach) and the M.B. Miller Pier (12213 Front Beach Rd., Panama City Beach), often referred to as
the City Pier and the County Pier. Constructed within a year of each other
(completed in 2009 and 2010), these two concrete piers are built to resist
hurricane damage and are the longest twin fishing piers on the Gulf of Mexico,
stretching some 1,500 feet into excellent fishing waters. In addition to
fishermen, the piers are popular with spectators as well, who enjoy walking out
over the water, witnessing some amazing catches by the local fishermen, or just
enjoying the unique view of the beach and the clear emerald waters swirling
around the pilings of the piers.

The piers are open 7 days a week and 24 hours a day. While
there’s a fee to go out on the pier, it’s well worth the small price. Passes purchased for one of these piers can be used at either. Open all
year. Fish caught in season: Cobia, King Mackerel, Spanish Mackerel, Red fish,
Blues, Blue liners, Pompano, Flounder, Hardtails and other varieties. Rod
rentals bait and tackle available on site.

Panama City Beach is well known for its outstanding fishing.
If fishing from one of the piers doesn’t appeal to you, there are many fishing charter
companies in the area that would be happy to take you out on one of their
boats. There’s just no good reason to miss out on the fabulous fishing
opportunities that this area offers residents and visitors alike!

If you’re planning a vacation trip to Panama City, Florida, you’re going to be looking for things to do for when you’re not occupied with fishing, golf, or laying by the pool in a lounge chair soaking up the rays. We’ve come up with 5 totally awesome things for you to do in Panama City while you’re here and they all promise to be tons of fun!

St. Andrews State Park – Set a full day aside to spend at this beautiful state park because you’re going to need it. While you can spend the day sunbathing on the white sandy beaches or swimming in the emerald green ocean water, there’s so much more to do here. Be sure to go snorkeling or try out scuba diving. They also offer kayaking and canoeing. Great fishing opportunities can be had from the two fishing piers and a jetty or put your boat in at the park’s boat ramp. Also available are nature trails, full-facility campsites, primitive camping, concession stand and Shell Island boat tours during the spring and summer. Address: 4607 State Park Lane, Panama City.

Rockit Lanes – Here’s a place that has it all! Come out and enjoy a game of bowling, arcade & billiards, or go rollerskating. Check out Monday Night Mania when from 9 p.m. until closing there is bowling, 2 for 1 Well Drinks and Team Bowling Tournaments. Check out the sports bar and grille. Happy Hour is Monday thru Friday from 4:30 to 6:30 with specials on Well Drinks, Longnecks, Drafts and Imports. Address: 513 Richard Jackson Blvd, Panama City Beach.

Pier Park - When you need some shopping therapy there are over 124 stores, a Grand IMAX Theatre, and many dining and entertainment venues at Pier Park. From home décor to jewelry to women’s clothing, this is the premier shopping venue in the Panama City area. Location: 600 Pier Park Dr, Panama City Beach.

Gulf World Marine Park – Pay one price and enjoy daily shows that include amazing dolphins, sea lions, reptiles, tropical birds and other animals. The indoor and outdoor tropical gardens have sea penguins, turtles, alligators and colorful flamingos. The stingray petting pool is a popular activity for many vacationers. Go ahead, get up close and personal with the animals. You can make a reservation for any of the interactive programs by calling 850–234–5271. The programs include Swim with a Dolphin program, Trainer for a Day program, Day Camps, and Sea Lion & Dolphin Meet-N-Greet programs. Parking is free and they are open rain or shine. Address: 15412 Front Beach Rd., Panama City Beach.